Traffic data acquistion system and method

ABSTRACT

A device, system, and method for providing real-time traffic information to a user is disclosed. In various embodiments, a wireless transmitter sends traffic information to a portable device that can receive and display the traffic information on a map of the display. Various roadway condition indicators may be used to convey the type and severity of roadway conditions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Patent ApplicationNo. 60/391,669, filed Jun. 27, 2002.

FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to wirelesstransmission of information, and more particularly to wirelesstransmission of traffic information to portable devices.

BACKGROUND

Commuters in most major metropolitan areas know that freeway traffic iscongested and getting worse. New freeways cannot be built fast enough tomaintain even the existing levels of congestion. Traffic congestion isprevalent in the United States and in other countries, as well.

The problem of congested traffic is particularly acute for those whoregularly commute during peak time periods of high-volume traffic, knownas rush hour. Frequently an alternate, less congested route may be takenif a commuter is alerted in advance of a particular area of congestion.Moreover, delivery vehicles and commercial fleets can use knowledge ofreal-time traffic information to create efficient delivery routes thatavoid highly congested traffic areas. Furthermore, some forms of publictransportation (e.g., bus lines) could benefit from knowledge of currenttraffic conditions.

Due to the continuing severity of this problem, commuters may wish toobtain traffic information before and/or during their commute. Thisinformation is generally available from a variety of sources, including,for example, television stations, Internet websites, and radio stations.However, due to the dynamic nature of traffic conditions, theinformation that the commuters receive from these sources may quicklybecome inaccurate during their commute. However, these informationsources are generally not timely and provide inadequate trafficcoverage.

Moreover, various attempts have been made to provide traffic informationto fixed, in-vehicle systems for use by travelers. However, thesesystems are restricted to in-vehicle use such that a commuter cannotaccess the system from a remote location (e.g., while sitting at home orin the office). This restriction can be a major disadvantage to acommuter who might change their travel plans based on trafficconditions.

For example, if a commuter is aware that a major accident has closedtheir travel route, they may elect to stay at home/work in order topursue some alternative activity rather than waste time going to theirvehicle to check traffic conditions. This can save a large amount oftime depending on the distance and time required for some people whowork in large, high-rise buildings far from where their car is parked.

Similarly, delivery vehicles, commercial fleets, and public transportvehicles can be re-routed and/or re-scheduled in order to save time andimprove efficient delivery and transportation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements. It should be noted that referencesto “an,” “one,” “the,” “other,” “alternative,” or “various” embodimentsin this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and suchreferences mean at least one.

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a portable device to receive trafficinformation.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 releasably disposed withina mounting device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the functionalcomponents of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a wireless transmission of traffic information from atransmitter to multiple devices such as the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for a user toobtain and perceive traffic information using, for example, the systemshown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the various embodiments. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without some ofthese specific details. In other instances, certain structures anddevices are omitted or simplified in order to avoid obscuring thedetails of the various embodiments.

The following description and the accompanying drawings provide examplesfor the purposes of illustration. However, these examples should not beconstrued in a limiting sense as they are not intended to provide anexhaustive list of all possible implementations.

Various methods disclosed herein can be implemented by using a machineto read instructions stored on a machine-readable medium and to performfunctions in accordance with those instructions. A machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism that provides (e.g., stores and/ortransmits) information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes read onlymemory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media;optical storage media; flash memory devices; and electrical, optical,acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves,infrared signals, and digital signals).

Referring now to FIG. 1, portable wireless device 10 is shown. As usedherein, the term “portable” refers to the ability of a device to beremoved from a vehicle and used as an independent device in any locationwithin a broadcast area (e.g., a home, office, shopping center, etc.).The portability of the devices disclosed herein yields severaladvantages over devices that are fixed in a vehicle. For example, a usercan view traffic information with a portable device even in locationsthat are remote from the vehicle. Thus, the user need not return to thevehicle every time they wish to ascertain whether traffic is at anacceptable level to suit the user's travel preferences.

Device 10 of FIG. 1 is capable of receiving traffic information from awireless transmitter. Any suitable wireless transmission (e.g.,frequency and/or protocol) can be used to send the traffic informationfrom the wireless transmitter to device 10. For example, the wirelesstransmission can correspond to the following: a paging transmission, afrequency modulation (“FM”) radio transmission (e.g., including FMsub-carrier transmissions), an amplitude modulation radio transmission,a short wave radio transmission, a microwave transmission, anynon-terrestrial transmission (e.g., a satellite transmission), aWireless Application Protocol transmission, a bluetooth transmission,any type of packet-based transmission, any type of digital transmission,and any type of cellular technology, including, for example, a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications transmission, a Time Division MultipleAccess transmission, a Code-Division Multiple Access transmission, anAdvance Mobile Phone Service transmission, a Personal CommunicationsService transmission, and a Short Message Service transmission.

The traffic information received from the wireless transmitter can bedisplayed on display 12. In various embodiments, display 12 is a liquidcrystal display (“LCD”). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, display 12includes a map on which the traffic information may be displayed. Invarious embodiments, the map of display 12 may be static and/or may becapable of scrolling. The map shown in FIG. 1 includes exemplaryroadways 14.

Although not shown in the figures, roadways 14 may include roadwaycondition indicators to alert a user to the type and severity of variousroadway conditions including, for example, approximate velocity oftraffic traveling on a portion of a roadway, traffic accidents,construction sites, road closures, etc. These roadway conditionindicators may take the form of, for example, color, an icon, a textmessage, or a combination of these indicators. In various embodiments,the roadway condition indicators may be used to simultaneously indicateconditions related to each direction of traffic flow on the sameroadway.

Thus, different portions of a roadway may be displayed in various colorsto show distinctions in the approximate speed of traffic on thedifferent portions of the roadway. Likewise, icons can be placed atconstruction sites or traffic accidents. Any of these indicators may bedisplayed in conjunction with a text message (e.g., static or scrolling)that gives additional information regarding roadway conditions.

Device 10 may have various inputs that allow a user to manipulate theappearance of display 12 or to create a route based on historicaltraffic data. For example, display 12 may include icons, which aregenerated by software in device 10, to represent functions that device10 is capable of performing. If display 12 is a touch screen or has anon-screen keyboard, a user may actuate the functions by pressing thescreen (e.g., icons) directly or indirectly (e.g., with a stylus) or byactuating a key or button on device 10 that is associated with the icon.

In other embodiments, device 10 will have one or more keys or buttons(e.g., inputs) on device 10 that are associated with at least onefunction (e.g., without icons representing functions of device 10). Forexample, a device may include arrow keys and/or a keyboard as inputs.The user may actuate these keys or buttons to perform various functions.

In addition, device 10 may be capable of receiving inputs that are notbased on physical contact. For example, device 10 may be capable ofreceiving input signals from a wireless keyboard, remote control, orother similar device. Moreover, device 10 may be capable of receivingvocal inputs from a user (e.g., with voice recognition software).

Regardless of the type of input used, device 10 may have various inputsavailable to a user. For example, a directional input may be used todisplay traffic conditions for a direction selected by the user. Ascroll input may be used to scroll the map on display 12 (e.g., changethe segment of map shown on display 12). The scroll function can beparticularly useful when the user's route is so long that the map cannotdisplay the entire route on display 12. A zoom input may be used tochange the amount of territory that is shown by display 12 by zooming inor zooming out on a certain segment of the map. A color input may beused to color at least a portion of the map. A “save altered map” inputmay be used to save at least a portion of the map in memory (e.g.,non-volatile memory) of device 10. A “set history save data” input maybe used to save traffic information with a time and date associated withthe saved traffic information in memory of device 10. A “create bestroute” input may be used to analyze, using saved traffic information andthe time and date associated with the saved traffic information, thebest route between a starting point and an end point and to display thebest route information on display 12.

FIG. 2 shows device 10 of FIG. 1 releasably disposed within mountingdevice 16. Although mounting device 16 is shown as a cradle-type device,any suitable mounting configuration could be used to releasably coupledevice 10 to a vehicle. For example, the mounting device can allow theportable device to be secured to a vehicle's sun visor, dashboard,steering wheel, etc.

In various embodiments, device 10 can be merely mechanically coupled toa vehicle or may alternatively be also coupled to form a communicationslink (e.g., can be wired or wireless) between a computer (e.g.,navigation system) in the vehicle and device 10. Likewise, any suitableconnection (e.g., mechanical and/or for communications) can be used toconnect device 10 to other types of computers (e.g., desktop computers,laptop computers, hand-held computers, single board computers, etc.),input devices, storage devices, displays, and/or other peripherals.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the functionalcomponents of the device of FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown, circuitboard 18 includes controller 22, communications port 20, communicationsport 26, memory 24, and antenna 19. In other embodiments, an internalloop is used in place of an external antenna.

In operation, antenna 19 receives a wireless transmission of trafficinformation, which is directed to controller 22 via communications port20 (e.g., bi-directional communications port). Communications port 20can contain software and/or firmware to perform various functions (e.g.,displaying traffic information on a map, saving traffic information withtime history data, and creating a best route). A service provider mayalso use the software/firmware to enable and/or disable transmissions tocommunications port 20.

The software and/or firmware can, in various embodiments, decode and/ordecompress incoming traffic information. Once the traffic information isdecoded and/or decompressed, it can be used to update and/or analyze adatabase associated with the portable device (e.g., located within thedevice or accessible by the device). The database can include anyinformation useful for creating the display (e.g., traffic sensorlocations, street/freeway locations, vehicle velocity data, etc.) Afterthe database is updated and/or analyzed, the display can be created.

Memory 24 is coupled to controller 22 such that controller 22 maymanipulate memory 24 (e.g., save, edit, and delete data) in theperformance of various functions. Controller 22 is also coupled tocommunications port 26 in order to enable communications between device10 and any other type of computer or electrical system.

In one embodiment, device 10 also includes a global positioning systemtransceiver to transmit location information to controller 22, which canbe used alone or in conjunction with traffic information to navigateand/or create suggested routes for a user.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a system that includes wirelesstransmitter 28 and portable wireless devices 30, 32, and 34. In theembodiment shown, devices 30, 32, and 34 are equivalent to device 10 ofFIG. 1.

In operation, wireless transmitter 28 sends wireless transmission 29,which contains traffic information, over a coverage area. Devices 30,32, and 34 are located within the coverage area and each receivewireless transmission 29. Devices 30, 32, and 34 may then utilizetransmission 29 to display the newly received traffic information on adisplay in a manner perceivable by a user.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for a user toobtain and perceive traffic information using, for example, the systemshown in FIG. 4. At block 36, traffic information is received on aportable wireless device. The traffic information is then displayed on amap on a display of the wireless device, at block 38.

In various embodiments, the method can further include indicating aroadway condition on the map (e.g., using one of the roadway conditionindicators described above). A user can also manipulate the displayusing the various inputs described above. Besides manipulating theappearance of the display, a user can use one or more of the inputs tosave traffic information and a time and date associated with the savedtraffic information. The saved traffic information and time and dateassociated with the traffic information can be subsequently used tocreate a route (e.g., best route), given a starting point and endingpoint. The user may also releasably couple the portable wireless deviceto a vehicle using any suitable mounting device.

The various portable devices disclosed herein can be used to disseminatetraffic condition information to subscribing customers. A static and/orscrolling electronic map of the customer's route(s) and/or Metropolitanarea can be stored in a large capacity memory medium such as a CD-ROM(e.g., a compact disc-ROM) or DVD (e.g. digital versatile disc), thememory unit of a controller such as a single-board computer, laptopcomputer, desktop computer, in-vehicle computer, and hand-held computingplatforms, other memory locations such as flash memory and PCMCIA (e.g.,Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cards and/orwithin the portable device itself. Information about actual and/orpotential traffic conditions can be transmitted to the portable deviceusing any suitable wireless transmission.

The traffic information is gathered from various agencies using multipletechnologies in order to create a database of traffic information.However, not all of this information may be readily available toconsumers. For example, the service provider may gather trafficinformation from newscasts, a radio receiver scanning frequencies usedby police and other emergency services, or sensors deployed on streetsand highways by governmental agencies.

In various embodiments, the portable device also includes a processor(e.g., controller) for accessing the database and correlating thelocation of a traffic problem with a route of a subscriber. The portabledevice can then display a warning, and perhaps a recommended alternateroute, to the subscriber.

Regardless of whether a warning is issued, the service provider cantransmit traffic information compiled from the database to thesubscriber. In various embodiments, the traffic information can beencoded and/or compressed before transmission to the subscriber(s).

In this manner, real-time traffic information can be provided to asubscriber 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with complete portability sothat traffic information can be accessed from home, office, and in thevehicle.

In order to broadcast the traffic information, the service provider maymaintain or simply utilize a network of radio transceiver base stationsthat are spread throughout the service area covered by the serviceprovider. Ideally, the transmitting base stations are distributed sothat the portable device can receive transmissions from at least onebase station whenever the device is located within the service area. Ina simplistic system, the service provider transmits traffic informationfrom all of the base stations in the system. Thus, if the portabledevice is located anywhere in the service area, it will receive thetransmission.

Commuters who subscribe to the service provider traffic transmissionsystem get traffic information transmitted wirelessly to their portabledevice. In various embodiments, the service provider can remotely enableand/or disable the subscriber's portable device to receive and displaytraffic information. In one embodiment, the service provider canenable/disable each subscriber's device by sending one or moretransmissions to the controller of the portable device.

In another embodiment, the service provider may send text messages toindividual subscribers (e.g., regarding traffic information and/orstatus of subscription). In addition, the service provider may enablesubscribers to send text messages directly or indirectly to anothersubscriber.

When traffic information arrives, the data is visually displayed inreal-time to a display map for a particular metropolitan area. Theincoming traffic data may then be saved in a storage medium. After beingnotified of any actual or potential problems along their route, eachsubscribing commuter may wish to circumvent congested route(s).

The commuter enters starting and ending location(s) into the portabledevice, and historical traffic data from the storage medium is used foranalysis and prediction of alternate route guidance. The portable devicecan be used alone or in conjunction with an in-vehicle system, orseparately with a desktop/laptop computer, handheld computing platform,or a single-board computer.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoingdescription, together with details regarding the function of the variousembodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be madein detail without departing from the scope of the various embodiments asexpressed by the broad general meaning of the terms of the appendedclaims.

1. An apparatus comprising: a portable wireless device to receivetraffic information from a wireless transmitter; and a display todisplay the traffic information on a map.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the traffic information corresponds to at least one of thefollowing: a paging transmission, a frequency modulation sub-carrierradio transmission, an amplitude modulation radio transmission, a shortwave radio transmission, a microwave transmission, a satellitetransmission, a Wireless Application Protocol transmission, a bluetoothtransmission, a packet-based transmission, a digital transmission, aGlobal System for Mobile Communications transmission, a Time DivisionMultiple Access transmission, a Code-Division Multiple Accesstransmission, an Advance Mobile Phone Service transmission, a PersonalCommunications Service transmission, and a Short Message Servicetransmission.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the displaycomprises: at least one of a static map and a scrolling map.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the display comprises: a roadway conditionindicator.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising: multiple roadwaycondition indicators, each one simultaneously relating to a differentdirection of traffic flow on the same roadway.
 6. The apparatus of claim4, wherein the roadway condition indicator comprises: at least one of acolor, an icon, and a text message.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe display comprises: an input.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, whereinthe input comprises: at least one of a directional input, a scrollinput, a zoom input, a color input, a “save altered map” input, a “sethistory save data” input, and a “create best route” input.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a mounting device toreleasably couple the apparatus to a vehicle.
 10. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising: a communication port to enable communicationbetween the apparatus and at least one of an in-vehicle computer system,a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a hand-held computer, asingle-board computer, an input device, a storage device, a display, anda peripheral device.
 11. A system comprising: a wireless transmitter totransmit traffic information; a portable wireless device to receive thetraffic information from the wireless transmitter; and a display todisplay the traffic information on a map.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the traffic information corresponds to at least one of thefollowing: a paging transmission, a frequency modulation sub-carrierradio transmission, an amplitude modulation radio transmission, a shortwave radio transmission, a microwave transmission, a satellitetransmission, a Wireless Application Protocol transmission, a bluetoothtransmission, a packet-based transmission, a digital transmission, aGlobal System for Mobile Communications transmission, a Time DivisionMultiple Access transmission, a Code-Division Multiple Accesstransmission, an Advance Mobile Phone Service transmission, a PersonalCommunications Service transmission, and a Short Message Servicetransmission.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the display comprises:at least one of a static map and a scrolling map.
 14. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the display comprises: a roadway condition indicator.15. The system of claim 14, comprising: multiple roadway conditionindicators, each one simultaneously relating to a different direction oftraffic flow on the same roadway.
 16. The system of claim 14, whereinthe roadway condition indicator comprises: at least one of a color, anicon, and a text message.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein thedisplay comprises: an input.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein theinput comprises: at least one of a directional input, a scroll input, azoom input, a color input, a “save altered map” input, a “set historysave data” input, and a “create best route” input.
 19. The system ofclaim 11, further comprising: a mounting device to releasably couple theapparatus to a vehicle.
 20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:a communication port to enable communication between the apparatus andat least one of an in-vehicle computer system, a desktop computer, alaptop computer, a hand-held computer, a single-board computer, an inputdevice, a storage device, a display, and a peripheral device.
 21. Amethod comprising: receiving traffic information on a portable wirelessdevice; and displaying the traffic information on a map on a display ofthe wireless device.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:prior to displaying, updating a database associated with the portabledevice with the traffic information.
 23. The method of claim 21, whereindisplaying comprises: indicating a roadway condition on the map.
 24. Themethod of claim 23, wherein indicating comprises: indicating multipleroadway conditions, each one simultaneously relating to a differentdirection of traffic flow on the same roadway.
 25. The method of claim23, wherein indicating comprises: assigning at least one of a color, anicon, and a text message to a roadway condition to be indicated.
 26. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: manipulating the display with aninput.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein manipulating comprises:actuating at least one of a directional input, a scroll input, a zoominput, and a color input.
 28. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: saving traffic information and a time and date associatedwith the saved traffic information.
 29. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising: creating a route based on the saved traffic information andtime and date associated with the saved traffic information.
 30. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: releasably coupling the portablewireless device to a vehicle.
 31. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: sending a text message to a user on a network.
 32. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: transmitting the trafficinformation to the portable wireless device via a wireless transmission.33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: at least one of enablingthe device to display traffic information and disabling an ability ofthe device to display traffic information.
 34. A machine-readable mediumcontaining instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause themachine to perform operations comprising: receiving traffic informationon a portable wireless device; and displaying the traffic information ona map on a display of the wireless device.
 35. The machine-readablemedium of claim 34, wherein displaying comprises: indicating a roadwaycondition on the map.
 36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35,wherein indicating comprises: indicating multiple roadway conditions,each one simultaneously relating to a different direction of trafficflow on the same roadway.
 37. The machine-readable medium of claim 35,wherein indicating comprises: assigning at least one of a color, anicon, and a text message to a roadway condition to be indicated.
 38. Themachine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the operations furthercomprise: altering an appearance of the display in response to actuationof at least one of a directional input, a scroll input, a zoom input,and a color input.
 39. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, whereinthe operations further comprise: saving traffic information and a timeand date associated with the saved traffic information.
 40. Themachine-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the operations furthercomprise: creating a route based on the saved traffic information andtime and date associated with the saved traffic information.